Automatic lighter



Feb. 21, 1933.

J. B. WILLIAMS AUTOMATIC LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1950 JAMEJ B. Mum/45 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WW5: X2

Feb. 21, 1933. B LUAM 1,898,863

AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Filed June 27. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /AMas W/LL/AMJ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 21, 1933 JAMES BERNARD WILLIAMS, F MINDEN, LOUISIANA AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to lighting devices for gas burners and the like of the automatic valve operating and igniting type.

One of the principal objects of the invention consists in the provision and arrangement of means for accomplishing the above work.

Another object of the invention contemplates the provision and arrangement of means for controlling the cut off valve from a remote point. i

- With the above and other objects in View, the invention further consists of the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a form of burner with the invention applied.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through the burner and illustrative of the particular arrangement of the several parts of the invention.

Figure 3 is a. vertical sectional View taken through the particular equipped burner.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken through the valve operating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through a form of housing for a modified form of valve operating mechanism.

. Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the modified valve operating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the wiring circuit of the modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like charactersof reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates generally a housing primarily designed for the accommodation of a form of relay 11, the primary winding of the transformer having the terminals 12 and 13 thereof connected in circuit with lead wires 14 and 15 carrying the customary house current voltage. The particular circuit between the house current voltage and the primary coil is normallyopen incident to the connecting of a push button switch 16 in series therewith. The secondary coil of the transformer has the 1930. Serial No. 464,361.

21. The secondary coil of the relay serves the purpose of a step-down transformer whereby the spark intensifying coil 21 will receive anywhere from eight to twelve volts. A lead. wire 22 extending from the output of the Spark nsifying coil 21 is passed through the bore of an insulator 23 disposed in close prox mity to the burner orifices. The ren1a1n1ng extremity of the lead Wire 22 is slightly spaced from the particular orifice of w the burner in order that same will cause the electricity to spark, bridging the space between the end of the conducting wire and the orifice or otherwise create an arc.

The core 24 of the electro-magnetic trans- I? former or relay is designed to magnetically attract or otherwise shift a swingably mounted operating lever 25 in a direction whereby a series of pivotally joined connecting rods 26 and 27 respectively will be shifted outwardly through a packing gland 28a in the housing. A pivoted link 28 supported at one end upon an appropriate portion of the burner housing is eccentrically and pivotally connected with the outermost end of the connecting rod 27. A cut-off valve 29 in the fuel supply line 30 has the operating lever 31 therefor connected to the remaining end of the pivoted link through a linkage connection 32. As will be noted from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, the cut-ofi valve 29 will be opened and the spark intensifying coil 21 energized in one operation, namely, by the closing of the push button switch 16 in circuit with the house current and the relay. The housing 10 is preferably filled with a suitable lubricant to cut down noise and obviate wear of the various parts; hence the ar-. rangement of the packing gland 28a. If desired a valve structure 33 may be arranged upon the feed line 30 to regulate the flow of gas to and adjust the height of the burner flame. Obviously after use of the burner equipped with the invention, the gas supply is shut olf by closing the valve 29 manually through the instrumentality of the lever 31.

In Figures 5 to 7 inclusive on Sheet 2 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified form of my invention which embodies an added advantage over the preferred form in the provision and arrangement of a remote control for cutting ofi the flow to the feed line through operation of the cut-01f valve.

The modification also embodies a housin form of coupling sleeve 42 to accommodate an elongated solenoid core 43 common to both coils. The solenoid core is designed for alternate lateral shifting motion within each of the solenoid coils as same' are selectively energized. The innermost ends of the guide rods 38 and 39 respectively. are connected at their innermost ends with the adjacent extremities of the solenoid core 43 in the manner shown in Figure 6. The solenoid coil is also provided with a. secondary coil or winding 44 having the lead wires 45 and 46 therefor connected with a form of vibrator spark intensifying coil 47 and grounded respectively. The support for the adjusting means 48 of the spark intensifying coil is grounded through a conducting or lead wire 49 and the vibrator arm 50 is likewise connected with the aforementioned ground circuit but same is interrupted or otherwise broken by the arrangement of a condenser 51 wired in series therewith. The terminals for the spark 1ntensifying coil 47 are connected in circuit with the vibrator arm 50 and condenser 51 and a form of electrode 52 respectively. The latter being spaced from the adjacent rtion of the burner to cause a spark for the orming of an arc therebetween to ignite the gas emitted the orifices therefor. L. .The p coils for each of the solenoid coils 40 and 1 are independently wired in series with switch members 53 and 54; the latter being in circuit with a' suitable source 8 vof current preferably to the stren%l i1of the en the ordinary house current voltage.

' member 53 is closed in circuit with the nmary coil of the solenoid coil 40, it is to he noted that the solenoid core 43 will be shiftedto the right from the Figure 6 position whereby the guide rod 38 will be extended from the aforementioned solenoid coil.

the iderod38andtheremainingendof the t row lever 59.

It is to be noted that the work to be accomplished in the modification corresponds to that of the initial form of the invention with the exception and advantage of providing a remote control for closing the cut-01f valve 55.

In either instance, that is, irrespective of details of construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

An igniter for producing a continuous fire comprising a gas burner, a sparking terminal having its extremity disposed toward the burner, a cut-off valve for the burner, solenoid coils electrically connected together, an.

armature adapted to be moved by the coils and operatively connected with the valve, an induction circuit adapted to be energized by one of the coils and electrically connected with the sparkin terminal.

In testimony w ereof I aflix my JAMES BERNARD WILLIAMS.

A cut-oil valve 55 arranged at an appropriate 

